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A New Document Surfaces On Out of Africa

(posted January 24, 2005)

On the eve of the all-important Safari Club International Convention, The Hunting Report has received a new document regarding Out of Africa, the South African booking agency cum Safari Company that has been at the center of a lot of controversy in Zimbabwe. The company, as we have told you before, has been accused of conducting illegal safaris in Zimbabwe, and we have been under a lot of pressure to expose their illegal activities. We haven't done so because the company maintains that it has not conducted any safaris at all in Zimbabwe, much less illegal ones, but has simply acted as agent for Zimbabwe-registered companies. We've found no hard evidence to counter that assertion by Out of Africa.

What we have turned up is evidence that Out of Africa has been booking overseas hunters into private and public properties that used to be owned or controlled by whites, but which are now in black hands, having been seized by the government and reallocated. The professional hunting establishment in Zimbabwe takes a very dim view of that, as do some international hunting clients. Indeed, there is perhaps an argument to be made that it is wrong to hunt lands forcibly seized from its rightful owners by a government that is widely viewed as illegitimate. But that does not mean booking hunters into these properties is illegal, which is what Out of Africa's detractors have been alleging.

Here at The Hunting Report, we do not have a dog in this fight between the Zimbabwean professional hunting establishment and Out of Africa, and we have tried to referee the struggle impartially. And that is what we are continuing to do by telling you about this latest document. It came to us by fax on Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority letterhead, and it was signed by Dr. M.Z. Mtsambiwa, who is identified as Director-General. The date on the letter is 20 January 2005. It is addressed to: The Chairman, Zimbabwe Indigenous Safari Operators Association; and The Chairman, Zimbabwe Association of Tour & Safari Operations. The bold headline on the letter is:

RE: Banning Of Out Of Africa'sOperations In Zimbabwe

The letter leads off with a reference to a report from Oscar Nyathi, which we quoted in a previous e-mail bulletin. That report, also on Parks and Wildlife Management Authority letterhead, cleared Out of Africa of all allegations of wrongdoing. Here is the full text of the latest document:

"We would like to refer to recent internet reports emanating from Oscar Nyathi which claim that Out of Africa's operation in Zimbabwe is legal and that the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority found Out of Africa's operations not in contravention of the laws of Zimbabwe.

"Please be informed that Oscar Nyathi's statement is completely incorrect and that his personal views are outright contrary to the official position and views of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Nyathi's statement must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

"In terms of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14, Out of Africa is not allowed any hunting nor any safari operation in the whole country of Zimbabwe. The company and all its staff members are not allowed to operate or conduct any business in Zimbabwe without the requisite licenses and/or permits from the appropriate authorities in Zimbabwe in terms of the laws and regulations of Zimbabwe.

"Out of Africa was formally advised of this position in our letter dated 22 September 2004 and our further communication to the company dated 13 October 2004 in which we further clarified to the company the above position and pointing to the legal requirements which Out of Africa has not proved to have satisfied.

"Please be guided accordingly.

Dr. M.Z. Mtsambiwa,Director-General."

So, does this mean Out of Africa is banned from operating in Zimbabwe? Absolutely. The company is not allowed to operate as a safari company in Zimbabwe, and any representation to the contrary is false and possibly fraudulent. But, again, Out of Africa says it has never operated, or attempted to operate, as a safari company anyway, and there is no hard evidence they have. Thus, the latest document does not really move this conflict forward at all, or have any bearing on the issue of whether you should buy a hunt from Out of Africa at the upcoming Safari Club International Convention.

What you should do, if you want to buy a hunt from this company, is ask for the name of the Zimbabwe-registered company you will be hunting with. Demand proof that the company is licensed to operate legally in the country. Next, ask for names and contact details of recent paid clients. If those check out, and you don't have any problem with a company that is widely known to take people onto seized properties in Zimbabwe, you may want to book a hunt with them. It might be worth your while to chat with some other Zimbabwe PHs first, so you have a clear understanding of just how deeply resented this company is by professionals who have spent their lives operating in the country. More than likely you'll hear allegations that Out of Africa is actually functioning as an operator in the country no matter whose name is listed as the operator. You'll also surely hear lots of other allegations. Our advice is to listen closely to the allegations, consider the source of them and then use your best judgment.

We would just like to make it clear here at The Hunting Report that our refusal to go along with the Out of Africa lynching party does not mean we are endorsing this company or saying it's ok to hunt on seized properties. And it certainly does not mean we are guaranteeing that this company can continue to broker hunts successfully in a country where it is so deeply resented by the professional hunting establishment. On the contrary, in our view, there is some ambiguity about the future of this company. But then what else is new about hunting with anyone in Zimbabwe? There has been ambiguity about the country itself for several years. During that time, hundreds of hunters have had wonderful hunts. It's our bet that 2005 is not going to be a lot different than 2004. And you can see what that was like by reading the 2004 Hunt Reports that have come in. Good luck!

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